Yesterday we drove over to a nearby town (which is really only 15 minutes away) to spend the morning with Millie Janalee's little friend Ann Phillips and her mommy.  Hillary and I went to school together, and her brother and I graduated together.  So we go way back.  Your fun fact for the day is that she and Russ actually dated (or maybe just "talked"...I'm not 100% on the facts) before Russ and I started dating.  Ha!  She ended up marrying a Russ...just not my Russ.  Now, don't you feel enlightened?

Sweet friends

Anyway, we met Ann Phillips and Hillary just as they were pulling out in the stroller.  We took the girls on a beautiful stroll through downtown toward the local library for storytime.  This was both of our first times at storytime, and we were hopeful the library wouldn't throw our busy 15 and 16 month olds out.  The children's section of the library was perfect for toddlers!  The computers were toddler friendly, there were puzzles and playmats, and there were even fun little interactive cars.  The storytime lady came out with blankets.  The older children began quickly helping her lay all the blankets out for seating.

Very into the crayon book!

Listening so well

Millie Janalee and Ann Phillips stayed pretty busy, but occasionally they made their way over to listen to the story as the lady read.  One of the older girls had to push Millie Janalee out of her way so that she could see, because Millie Janalee was taking her time scooting past her.  Oops!  Haha! 

Two girls...one puzzle piece.  Ha!

Mostly the girls carried around random puzzle pieces for the entire first part of storytime...helping them flex their sharing muscles as you can see above.  Ha!  The little girl beside them was obviously distracted by the cute little friends.  Hillary and I quickly found another puzzle piece on the floor to replace the one taken by the winner of this interaction.  All was well.  And they had no clue they were learning to share. 

Hillary reading to her little love

Once the puzzle pieces grew boring, the little friends took books off the library shelves and played with the toys meeting new friends while the storytime lady finished her first book.  Ann Phillips loved finding all the puppets while Millie Janalee plotted her escape routes to use for multiple escapes later that morning.

The girls playing with new friends.

It didn't take long for storytime to grab the attention of these two sweeties!  "I'm a Little Teapot" was next.  All the children stood to make their handle and spout.  Millie Janalee and Ann Phillips watched closely as they tried to figure out just how to make their little bodies into teapots.

After "I'm a Little Teapot" and "If You're Happy and You Know It", there was one last story...narrated on the iPad.  Hillary and I are pretty intrigued at this idea and looking to get these for home.  Ann Phillips wanted to make sure she was right in the action during this story.  Ha! 

After storytime, we let the girls play around awhile as the crowd thinned out.  Millie Janalee browsed the board book section taking book after book off the shelf.  The teacher in me was cringing, but I figure she's not the first toddler to take all the books off.  And I did put them back in the end.  Between taking books off the shelves and playing with friends, she only tried to sneak off three times or so.  Hillary and I had blocked one entrance with our strollers, but there were two more.  I'm still not sure how she did it.  I was standing right there every time.  She wasn't trying to escape the library, but she sure did love running the long aisles of adult books.  The library worker helped me find my little runaway a couple of times, and she was running toward me with a big smile on her face like "Did you see what I did Mama?!  It was so fun!"  I now understand why parents put leashes on their children.  Seriously, I knew she couldn't roam far, so there was no reason to panic.  It is a small library.

After all the fun was had, we took the girls strolling to a downtown restaurant for lunch.  Millie Janalee stayed entertained by Ann Phillips and her funny mama.  We enjoyed a yummy lunch full of conversation about the girls and headed back.

The girls were exhausted by the time we made it back to Hillary's.  Ann Phillips enjoyed a little nap during the stroll too.  We said our goodbyes and were asleep before we arrived home.  It was a fun little girl's day out!

We are thankful for our little sweet friends and a beautiful day to enjoy!

Thankful for Change

It is Fall.

No matter how many Christmas lights and trees (including my own) you see.  It is still Fall.  The colors that cover the landscape are breathtaking.  Everything about it makes me happy and smiley and feel energized.  As I do at the changing of every season.

I am thankful for change.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1

All these physical changes remind me of the changes found in the human spirit.  People change too.  Priorities.  Interests.  Goals.  Behaviors.  Appearances.  Thoughts.  And more...

I am thankful for change.

I sometimes let my mind wander back to my younger years.  [That makes me sound old.  And I'm not.]  Most of us have years of our life we wish we could forget.  There is a year or two of high school I wish I could sweep under the rug and forget.  Most of the time I do.  But then there's a person or a comment made that brings it all back.  And I cringe.

People always say they have no regrets because mistakes make them who they are.  I disagree.  There are some mistakes that helped mold me.  Then there are mistakes that just made me look like an idiot.  Seriously.  And what's funny about the whole thing is all (with the exception of one thing I can think of) the things I regret happened during the small amount of time I was "cool" or in the "popular crowd".  Eleven years later I cringe at even the pressure and desire I felt to be "cool."  And I look at my life now.  I'm anything but "cool," and I certainly don't hang out with the "popular crowd" as seen by the world.  I am surrounded by family and friends who have a love and passion for living their lives for God.  They encourage me, love me for the mess I am, and are genuinely concerned with the ups and downs of my life...and my heart.  My friends and family?  They are way above my "coolness" and way above my character.  And they aren't going anywhere.

I am thankful for change.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-change.html#sthash.IC3whZ1z.dpuf

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-change.html#sthash.IC3whZ1z.dpuf

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-change.html#sthash.IC3whZ1z.dpuf

As I watch my daughter grow and change, I am thankful.  Thankful for the change she will experience when she makes mistakes.  Even mistakes that serve no purpose but to make her look foolish.  I'm not naive enough to think she won't need change.  We all do.  I am thankful to a Father who already knows the days of her life, and I pray that He prepare her heart for His plan.  And I pray that she actively seek His plan.

Because it's perfect for her.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2

Today I am thankful for change.

Thankful for our Pumpkin Patch Days

During the years of waiting, I dreamed of my Pumpkin Patch Days.  It seems that Fall and the holidays are the most difficult times for those of us who waited and are still waiting to grow our families.  There are always pictures of little ones at the pumpkin patch and dressed up in Halloween costumes and having pictures with Santa.

So believe me when I say that I do not take my Pumpkin Patch Days for granted.  It is especially important to me that we visit a pumpkin patch...because of the years and months and days I dreamed of my turn.  I am thankful.

The day Millie Janalee and I returned from meeting baby Selah Grace, we changed clothes and joined Russ for the local pumpkin patch.  Russ's schedule, in case you didn't already know, is always packed full.  So when we have the opportunity for a family day...we jump at it!

It was a beautiful day with a slight chill in the air.  The third Fall outfit I put on Millie Janalee finally fit.  The others I had to have altered or put back for next year!  Ha! Russ and I had never been to this pumpkin patch, but it was full of activities for little ones and families.  Including a petting zoo.  Maybe you remember how much Millie Janalee loves a good petting zoo.  Ha!

We let her walk around a good bit on her own around the barn and watching the animals and birds pacing around.  She was so very happy to scuffle those little feet around in the loose dirt.  She was also quite a hit with the passers by.  She loves to wave and talk to people as they walk past.  I think she will make friends easily.

At the end of the petting zoo walkway was a little train that rides around a circle in a field.  So of course we loaded up!  I think she enjoyed it, even though this picture looks like she didn't.  We'll just say it was because she didn't want to get off.  Ha!  She waved at the families waiting in line as we passed by.  And they waved back.  Naturally.

Millie Janalee loves her Daddy!  You can see why I love days we are able to enjoy as a family of three.  When Russ gets home from work, Millie Janalee's little face just lights up.  She likes to follow him around at night, and when he gets ready to take Farley out for a walk...it's quite tragic if she doesn't get to tag along.  Ha!  I think it's fair to say that she enjoyed her time with her Daddy at the pumpkin patch.

Some might think that it's no big deal since I'm with her 24/7.  You could not be more wrong!  It's funny really.  I find myself glued to every move and sound she makes.  It all fascinates me.  Like I'm experiencing the world for the first time with her...through her eyes.  This girl is so fun-loving and frankly my little bestie!  I love her so!

I especially love spending days like these with her.

After visiting all the animals in the petting zoo and riding the train, we ventured over to a field where the hay maze was.  We didn't actually do much exploring the little maze.  Instead we picked grass in the same spot for some time.  It's the little things after all.

Of course we also made time for fun on the playground.  This was Millie Janalee's first experience on a public swingset.  She was unsure at first, but it didn't take long for her tickle box to turn over.  It began getting a little too chilly for us to have Millie Janalee out without her legs covered, so we decided to start shutting our pumpkin patch trip down.

You can't leave the pumpkin patch without a pumpkin!  Millie Janalee spent lots of time meticulously touching and browsing all the options she could reach.  We waited for her to find a pumpkin she liked...which was all of them.  But we also knew she could only physically pick up a small one.  So we let her curiosity run wild for a while.

Before long, she found the bin of tiny pumpkins.  I would love to say that it was a dreamy picture of my 15 month old picking a pumpkin, walking over to me to signal her decision, and we happily walked away ready to paint or carve said pumpkin.

But that would be a lie.

What actually happened was she thought the bin of pumpkins was a toy chest full of balls.  She picked them up and threw them down, then reached back in for more.  When we started picking up the pumpkins and told her she could only choose one...she was not happy.  We managed to walk her away from the tiny pumpkin bin, but she wasn't finished playing with her new "orange ball."

Before we left, I insisted on taking pictures on the pumpkin wagon.  First my turn, then Russ's.  You can see from the pictures how her mood progressed as she realized we were leaving the fun of the day.

See.  Even when she's crying, she's precious!  Or is that just what all mothers say?

No matter how we ended, I am so thankful for my own "pumpkin patch days"!  Oh how I waited for them!  If you are still waiting on yours, it's coming!

Thankful for Growth

Lately I have been loving my Timehop app.  Each day I can check it to see what tweets and pictures I posted on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  It has been fun seeing what my little princess looked like one year before.

And it's been a little sad.

One year ago today, Millie Janalee was seventeen weeks old.  I was talking about all the cooing, growing, and giggles she had started doing.  She was so tiny!  And I thought she was a roly poly...missing my bitty baby. 

Ummm....HELLO!?  What is this? 

Exactly one year later, Millie Janalee is anything but itty bitty.  And she's certainly not roly poly.  She's doing much more than cooing and giggling.  And she's not drinking 7 ounce bottles.  Nope.  This girl hasn't had a bottle at all in over a week.  And some days I tear up over that.  I have never once been excited about the fact that we are finished with bottles.  In fact, I will not promise that I won't pull one out if needed. 

There are no more coos and baby giggles.  There are giggles...more like cackles.  There are squeals and screams of delight.  There are pitters and patters of little feet running through the apartment.  There is a toddler feeding our decorative reindeer her sippy cup and taking care of her baby dolls before kissing them and saying, "Bye" in the cutest little southern drawl ever.  There's a smart girl reading to herself and turning the pages all on her own.  Last night I paid particular attention to her little fingers and how they manipulated the pages as she turned them.  It was in such a big girl way!  I almost died right there over the cuteness.

This girl may be wearing the same little dress as she did when she was 17 weeks old.  But this year, she is wearing it as a shirt.  She looks just as precious...and double the size!  This little girl is growing up before our very eyes, and I love it! 

I am so thankful that I can look back at old pictures and compare them to her now.  There is no better feeling and no more overwhelming feeling and no more rewarding feeling and no more sadder feeling than to look back at just one year ago...and realize how much she has grown. 

I am so thankful.

Thankful for Miracles

A week later, I'm finally ready to share the big gender reveal with you!  If you are new around here (like within the last month or so) let me fill you in.  My sister and her hubby are expecting their first little one.  Halloween morning we found out whether they were seeing PINK or BLUE.

Lee's mother, aunt, and grandmother gave Lee and Kristin a fantastic "baby gift"...although I'm pretty sure it was a gift to them too.  Ha!  In Jackson, TN there is a place called 4-D Sneak Peek.  Basically, it is a place where families can go to see their little one(s) on a big screen in a cozy, living room-like environment with your family and friends surrounding you.  And children are always welcome.  The packages are pretty reasonable, in my naive opinion.  And you can go early!  Kristin was just 15 weeks when they made their gender reveal appointment.  The ladies who run this place do not comment or make any medical judgements as a medical clinic...even though one is a nurse practitioner with 25 years newborn care experience and the other is a radiology tech.  They are simply there to show you the "sneak peek." 

We were all very excited about the big day and had cast our votes.  BOY was in the lead, but it turned out that GIRL wasn't too far behind.  We traveled to Jackson on a rainy Halloween morning to get our first peek at Millie Janalee's newest cousin.  Of course, Millie Janalee is trying her best to grab all the attention she can before she has to share all the greetings with another cutie.

Once everything was ready, we all filed into the ultrasound room.  Or is it a sonogram?  Remember, I have ZERO experience with all this pregnancy stuff.  Ha!  Kristin laid up on the table with her baby daddy beside her, and the tech began the big show!  We joked that all we needed was some popcorn as we sat and relaxed on couches watching the big screen in front of us.

I think Kristin was more anxious to hear the heartbeat, so the tech told her immediately that she saw the heartbeat.  The rest could now continue.  It took probably less than a minute for the tech to spot the gender.  She did a little extra maneuvering to be sure, and I looked at Russ to see what he saw.  "Yep.  I know."  He said.  Such a smarty pants radiologist! 

The tech said, "Are you ready?"  YES!  "Okay...it's a BOY!"

I was the only one in the room who guessed it may be a GIRL.  But, I've got to be honest.  I kinda felt like it would be a boy, but I like to vote my own way.  If I was gonna be right, I wanted to be the only one who was right.  Haha!  But...I was wrong.

Back to the show.  Everyone screamed, laughed, and cried.  A baby nephew is on the way, y'all!

Lee, Lee's mom, and my mom

Lee's aunt and dad

My dad videoing and taking pics with his phone while holding Millie Janalee

There I am!  In charge of video.  Russ was the photographer.  You'll see him in a minute.  Ha!

So, there he is.  Our newest little addition to this big, crazy family!

And we all fell silent as we listened to that heartbeat.  A couple of times.

The furthest I've ever been in an ultrasound is to see a heartbeat, so all this amazing stuff is so new.  He was all over the place!  Twirling and flipping and moving his mouth and waving his hands.  Quite the active little fella.  And all he had to drink was apple juice.  He's probably got the jitters like his mama.  I just could not believe all that was going on in there, and Kristin couldn't feel a thing.  See?  I told you I was new to all this.

It's just quite miraculous and crazy that this little mini person is living and moving and waving inside a human body.  How can you not believe in God when you see that?

Daddy, Mama, and baby BOY makes three!

The audience for this baby boy's big premier

Lee's family

Our family minus Dustin (He had a test.)

After all the pictures were taken and the tech gave Kristin and Lee a set of prints from their ultrasounds, we filed back out of the room into the waiting area.  We waited on Lee and Kristin while we began the big discussion about what's really most important...lunch.  I kid.  But really.  It's pretty important.

Then, the new mommy and daddy to be came walking into the room with a change of clothes?  OH!  It's not just Baby T or Baby Boy anymore...

It's Hughes Lee Tull!

So baby Hughes will join his big cousin, Millie Janalee, in late-April unless he makes other plans.  Because, well, he's free to make his own decision in there I guess.  Ha!

And...the only grandchild expires April 2014!  And this is one expiration date we can't wait to come.